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September 3, 2008

G139: Red Sox 5, Orioles 4

Through six innings, the Red Sox had only three baserunners, all of whom failed to reach second. In the final three innings, however, 11 runners reached base, and five of them scored, and the Red Sox walked off with a win and a sweep of the Orioles.

In the ninth, with the game tied 4-4, Alex Cora lined a single to right-center (his third hit of the afternoon). Coco Crisp dropped a squib bunt down the first base line. The ball rolled maybe 15 feet and had just spun over the foul line when it hit a little rock and hopped back into fair territory. Pitcher Jim Miller -- who made his major league debut last night -- grabbed it but his throw was low and late to first. Two on, no outs.

Jacoby Ellsbury (who robbed Aubrey Huff of a home run in the fifth with a leaping catch over the visitors' bullpen wall) also dropped down a bunt. It was directly in front of the plate. Miller got to it quickly, turned and fired to third. His throw was very wild, well to the left of Huff's glove. Indeed, the third base umpire had to duck back out of the way. The ball sailed into left field and Cora scored easily.

Boston got on the board when Dustin Pedroia homered down the left field line with one out in the sixth. Then, with two gone, Jason Bay was hit by a pitch in the foot, Jason Varitek walked on four pitches, Cora bunted for a hit, and Crisp walked. Baltimore led 4-2.

In the seventh, Jed Lowrie was called out on a short check swing. David Ortiz walked and Pedroia doubled into the left field corner (his third hit of the day!). Kotsay then banged a 2-1 pitch that was slicing to left-center. Adam Jones chased it, but seemed afraid of hitting the wall and pulled up short. The ball hit low on the wall, Jones banged into the wall anyway and fell down. It was a game-tying triple for Kotsay.

Cora also made a huge play in the top of the eighth. Baltimore led 4-2 and Huff had singled and stolen second base with no outs. Oscar Salazar hit a grounder to Cora's left and Huff took off for third. In one smooth motion, Cora gloved the ball and whirled and fired to third. Lowrie slapped the tag down on Huff for the out on a very close play. Justin Masterson then got an inning-ending double play two pitches later.

The White Sox beat Cleveland this afternoon 4-2 to stay 4 GB the Red Sox in the WC. ... A Yankees win over the Rays tonight would bring Boston to within three games of first place in the East.

Cormier has been stretched out to four innings once this season, on June 28 in relief against the Nationals, but hasn't pitched more than two innings since that outing. Trembley said on Tuesday night that he had no expectations for Cormier's longevity on Wednesday afternoon.

Dice-K and Kuroda seem to have the same type of MO as to how they fare in any particular game. If the slider is on, they're on. If they don't have the slider, they're not going to have a very good day.

It's amazing how Dale Arnold, who's doing radio today, can annoy the shit out of me just by one single flaw: His flow. He very rarely announces that the pitch is being delivered. He'll say what happened, but no, "the pitch..." or "here's the pitch."

FUCK ME! AFTER A REALLY REALLY LATE NIGHT OF WORK FOLLOWED BY SOME HEAVY DRINKING IN WAKE UP TO THIS SHIT? WHO IS THIS FUCKING PITCHER AND WHERE IS THE OFFENSE THATS CORED 1,000,000 RUNS THE LAST TWO DAYS?????????

i dont know if anyone has noticed, but the cameraman whos been doing the behind the plate wideshot of the outfield when there are pop ups or dongs is an asshole. films every pop up like its a dong with the WIDE DRAMATIC SHOT when its barely a pop up out of the infield.